EPFO Circular dt. 08/01/2016 removes the grace period of 5 days for depositing PF contributions by the Employers and hence the due date shall be 15th instead of 20th of the following month, from February, 2016 onwards, as under:
1. As per paragraph 38(1) of the EPF Scheme, 1952, paragraph 3 of EPS, 1995 and paragraph 8(1) of EDLI Scheme, 1976, the employers are required to pay the contributions and administrative charges within fifteen days of close of every month. The employer, as per para 5.1.3 of Manual of Accounting Procedure (Part-I General), is also allowed a grace period of 5 days to remit the contribution.
2. The grace period of five days have been allowed for the employers to remit the contributions as the system of calculation of wages of the employees and their corresponding dues under the twee schemes (Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme 1952, Employees’ Pension Scheme 1995 & Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme 1976) were done manually and its remittances in the bank required additional time in the earlier manual setup.
3. In the present era, employers compute the wages and EPF liabilities electronically (in most of the cases on real time basis) and file Electronic Challan-cu-m-Return (ECR). The remittances are also being deposited through Internet Banking. This has reduced the process and time taken in calculation of PF dues and its remittances in the bank. Accordingly, it has been decided that concession of grace period of 5 days available to the employers for depositing the contribution & other dues is withdrawn herewith. This decision shall apply from February, 2016 (contributions for month of January, 2016 and payable in the month of February, 2016).
4. The employers shall pay the contribution and other dues as envisaged under EPF & MP Act, 1952 and Schemes framed there under within fifteen days of dose of every month.
EPFO Circular dt. 08/01/2016: Employers to Deposit PF Contributions by 15th (new due date)
If due date for PF Payment falls on Public Holiday/ Sunday
During the grace period regime, the remittances of PF dues made on next working day were subject to Penal Damages, when last day of grace period was falling on a public holiday/ bank holiday. It may be noted that after removal of grace period of 5 days as above, the EPFO has not yet specifically clarified whether the dues may be paid on next working day with or without penal damages, if the last date/ due date falls on a public/ bank holiday. However going by the general law of the land, in such circumstances PF dues may be deposited on next working day, as there is no special condition stipulated yet by the EPFO to make payment with Penal Damages on next working day.
Penal Damages on Late Deposit of PF using Internet Banking: EPFO Clarification
EPFO has clarified that with the implementation of internet banking, the date of debit from the employer’s account may be taken as date of payment of PF, etc. contributions for the purpose of levy of damages by way of penalty. For details, please refer the following link:
Grace period of 5 days allowed by EPFO to Employers for payment of PF Dues of Dec. 2016 latest by 20 Jan. 2017, i.e. due date extended from 15 Jan. 2017 as a special case
Earlier the EPFO has issued Circular dt. 8 Jan., 2016, removing grace period of 5 days for depositing PF by Employers from Feb. 2016 onwards, i.e. making new PF Deposit Due Date as 15th of the following month. However, EPFO has allowed a grace period of 5 days for employers to deposit PF dues for Dec. 2016 (i.e. by 20th January, 2017) in view of recent implementation of Unified Portal by EPFO from 23 Dec. 2016 due to which employers are facing certain problems on the portal, like problems in upfront allotment of UAN, connectivity issues, login issues, website slowdown/ hanging, lack of awareness of new procedures etc. Further, the IS Division of EPFO is making efforts to remove the difficulties asap and stabilize the unified portal in due course.
EPFO Circular dt. 12/07/2017: PF Due Date for Dec. 2016 extended to 20/01/2017
We paid the dues on 15th itself using net banking and the amount also got debited the same day but got credited with the department after 15th for some reason. Will this be treated as late deposit?
No, In this situation date of deposit shall be taken as 15th, i.e on due date.
15th is considered as amount paid. If you pay 15th through cheque then 15th is considered
Department disallows the expenditure as per Gujarat High Court decision, if we have paid before due date but credited by Bank after the due date??
As 15 August 2017 is National Holiday being Independence Day. Can we pay PF Contribution on next day (i.e. 16 Aug. 2017) or it will attract damages/ penal charges?
my company is not submitting my pf amount in my account but they deduct my contribution in my salary from last 7 months, but when check in my PF passbook the same is not credited. What should i do?
We paid arrears of pay (increased retrospectively) and contributions are liable to be deposited on or after 15th of the month. In case arrears are paid for some reasons after 15th of the month then how the arrears of contribution will be deposited after 15th of the month. Whether this will attract Interest factor on late deposit?
If I pay salary for the month of January 2019 on 14 March 2019 then what is the due date for pf payable??